Joint Supplement vs Bute Substitute

Daffy Dilly

Daffy Dilly

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Dec 5, 2004
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I started Daffy on bute on xmas day to tide him over whilst I look to see if we can find a yard with all year turnout.

It has significantly reduced his stiffness, infact he felt pretty darn good earlier tonight. I was going to buy something like No-Bute or Bute-X today, but all they had was Buteless (by Equine America) and at £60 I wasn't up for it. I've been thinking about it though, and after riding him I would like to continue with the bute, if only it didn't have the negative effects with long term use. Once/if we had access to turnout I would of course reduce the amount he gets.

I'm working on the bute costing me about £1 a day, he's getting a full sachet per day right now, and I'm sure they billed us about £8something for 8 sachets. So it's going to be just as cost effective to feed something like Cortaflex or Buteless.

Bearing in mind we don't actually know exactly where the stiffness is (I'm trying to do my own research into it) or what's causing it, and for the next couple of months we will be unable to find out exactly, what would people recommend? Can a Bute substitute ever be as effective as the real thing? Are we better going for a joint supplement?

If I won the lottery he'd be straight off for full body x-rays and what not, but as it is I'm playing it by ear, and all I know is he was very very stiff, and after a few days on bute, he is significantly better.
 
Hi,

I moved my boy to a yard where he now lives out and he's nowhere near as stiff he was when he was coming in every night. Before I moved him I started him on Feel Good30 joint supplement and I also got him some Naf Devils Relief, which contains devils claw, which is a natural anti-inflammatory and painkiller and can be fed long term with no side effects. These did seem to make a difference and are reasonably priced too! I plan to continue with the joint supplement but think both of these are worth a try :)
 
I used Devil's Claw (cost about £15 for a month) and a cheapish glucosamine and MSM supplement for Mia last time her stifle was being horrible and it seemed to help..

What works best really depends on what the problem is but since bute is anti-inflammatory then a herbal anti-inflammatory like Devil's Claw should have a good chance of helping..
 
My friend used Devils claw and it worked wonders, vet recommended another bute alternative that worked better though but cant remember what it was called.
 
Oddly enough, we are better now that we are in overnight. My 21 year old has lived out all year for the last 8 years or so, but was starting to drop weight - not getting in to the feeders etc, so I decided to bring her in. I was initially worried that she would be stiff being in a box, but so far she seems okay.

I feed blue chip dynamic, devils claw and a maintenance level cortavet HA (work for a vet so $$$$ not toooo bad!) If she has a stiff day then I up the cortavet, or drop the devils claw and give a bute or two, and then go back to the lower levels.

You may find you can drop to a lower dose of any supplement after a while, just play it by ear, what works for some, may not have the same effect on others. I didn't notice much difference between Buteless and the Devils Claw granules, I think they are roughly the same price too.
 
I do have some Devils Claw for him somewhere, will try and find it. Never got around to feeding it to him, but will try a two week course of that rather than bute and see what happens.

What I have is the capsules for humans - 5 a day? Or 10? :p
 
Daffy Dilly said:
I do have some Devils Claw for him somewhere, will try and find it. Never got around to feeding it to him, but will try a two week course of that rather than bute and see what happens.

What I have is the capsules for humans - 5 a day? Or 10? :p
Click to expand...

....a bit like pharmacology now.....no idea, without a calculator and dose guides!!
 
Still can't find them, but here's the label found on the web (I'll buy some more if needs be):

Directions: Take one capsule two to four times daily, preferably with a meal or may be taken as a tea by opening capsule into a cup, then adding hot water. Do not exceed stated dose.
 
Can I ask why you won't be able to get to the bottom of his stiffness any time soon? The reason I'm asking is that there are some joint conditions which aren't helped in the long term by using neutraceuticals (thinking bone spavin here but I'm sure there's at least one other) and you could be making things worse in the long run by buting if you shouldn't be.

I'm working on the bute costing me about £1 a day, he's getting a full sachet per day right now, and I'm sure they billed us about £8something for 8 sachets. So it's going to be just as cost effective to feed something like Cortaflex or Buteless.
Click to expand...

You were overcharged for your bute in that case. My vets charge 52p per sachet but you are entitled to a prescription (free of charge) from your vets which will enable you to buy bute from elsewhere. I've seen it for as little as 34p per sachet if you buy 100 sachets at a time, which at £34 isn't so bad.

If you were wanting to look into natural pain relief, I'd look at Boswellia Serrata over Devils Claw. Devils Claw comes with it's own contraindications and problems when used in the long term, whereas, to date, Boswellia has none.
 
I buy cortaflex in bulk (3.6kg) for £155 which works out at under £10 a month. It has done wonders for my mare who could be quite stiff over the winter months. I feed it all year but remove it from her diet in August/September and then start the loading dose again when she comes in at night in October. I have done this for three years now and am very happy with it.
 
Bebe said:
You were overcharged for your bute in that case. My vets charge 52p per sachet but you are entitled to a prescription (free of charge) from your vets which will enable you to buy bute from elsewhere. I've seen it for as little as 34p per sachet if you buy 100 sachets at a time, which at £34 isn't so bad.
Click to expand...

I was going to say the same. Mine worked out as 50p per sachet for 10 from my vets :)
 
i think its because bute is an anti-inflammatory that the reduced discomfort made him feel better. devils claw is also an anti-inflammatory.


i now have my old creaky boy with lots of lameness problems on a supplement called Old Horse - it contains meadowsweet and white willow (an excellent painkiller - like aspirin) as well as milk thistle to protect the liver, amongst other things. Can't remember off the top of my head all the ingredients, but its all good stuff for joints in there.


He wont even touch bute so I took his advice and found him something else :p he licks his bowl clean now.. and he is a very fussy eater!


I feed him that and Riaflex Complete (high levels of glucosamine, MSM and chrondroitin) and he is bouncing.

he comes in overnight too, and although he comes out of the stable stiff in the morning, he soon walks it off within a few strides and is much better than he used to be. :)
 
here we go:

old horse
http://www.equimins-online.com/acat...imins_Old_Horse_Liquid_Herbal_Tincture_8.html

riaflex complete
http://www.riaflex-equine.co.uk/product_riaflex_complete.htm




Feel Good 30's Joint + Relief supplement is very effective too, like others have said it contains Boswellia. the supplement increases comfort levels as well as optimising joint function, which would be good to prevent any further wear and tear.
http://www.quayequestrian.com/feelGood30/ProductDetails.aspx?id=203
 
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